Summer is truly underway, and naturally your thoughts are turning to the beach and swimming, as well as snorkelling.
But to experience your snorkel adventure, or even just a good long swim, you really need to be equipped with a top notch pair of fins.
Whether you are new to snorkeling, a freediver, a scuba diver, or just travelling to a world-famous destination where snorkelling is a must, owning a good set of fins is as important as owning a good snorkeling mask.
A good set of fins will not only help you swim longer, but will also help you move through the water much faster.
Without fins, you are pretty much stagnant in the water. Being stagnant is not fun! You need to move, to have fun, and to explore as much as possible.
Moving around too much in the water won’t only cause you to get out of breath easily, it will also cause you to spend your m energy quickly, which is never a good thing. Fins are the perfect solution to this issue.
Once you treat yourself with a good set of fins, they will quickly become an essential part of your equipment when spending time in the water.
However, if you are a novice to snorkeling , choosing the right set of fins may seem like a momentous task.
Never fear, Beach Baby is here to help guide you through a selection of some of the best snorkel fins to take to the beach this year.
So, stay with us to find out how to pick the best fins to suit your desired sport and foot type, what to look for when buying fins and much more. Here is what we are going to cover today:
- [ps2id url=’#1′ offset=” class=”]How to select the right pair of fins?[/ps2id]
- [ps2id url=’#2′ offset=” class=”]What types of fins are there?[/ps2id]
- [ps2id url=’#3′ offset=” class=”]We review some of the best Cressi snorkel fins[/ps2id]
- [ps2id url=’#4′ offset=” class=”]Cressi Rondinella[/ps2id]
- [ps2id url=’#5′ offset=” class=”]Cressi Reaction Pro[/ps2id]
- [ps2id url=’#6′ offset=” class=”]Cressi Pluma[/ps2id]
- [ps2id url=’#7′ offset=” class=”]Cressi Clio[/ps2id]
[ps2id id=’1′ target=”/]
Without further ado, let’s get to it!
How to select the right pair of fins?
As we have already said, there are all sorts of fins available on the market today, which can sometimes make the task of selecting the right pair overwhelming and confusing.
When choosing the right pair of fins you need to consider your level of snorkeling experience, your leg power, and the type of snorkelling or divining that you will be doing.
When choosing the best pair of fins, always keep in your mind that an inefficient pair of fins will have a negative impact on your air consumption and the amount of energy you use.
You need to select a comfortable pair of fins otherwise you will not be able use them effectively under water.
You also need to pay attention to fin buckles and straps, as well as fin blade types.
Fin buckles and straps are designed to make putting on and taking off your fins as easy as possible. So, make sure you chooses fins that you can put on and take off in a matter of seconds.
[ps2id id=’2′ target=”/]When it comes to fin blades, there are several types for you to choose from. Stay with us to learn more about fin blade types and how they differ:
What types of fins are there?
Standard fins
Most of the standard fins come with flat blades. As the blades are flat, water spills over the sides of the fins, reducing efficiency and creating turbulence in water which can make the fins feel unstable.
Standard fins are the simplest in design and generally are most popular. They work pretty much the same way as an ore, propelling your forward with every kick cycle.
Vented fins
Vented fins are a step up from the standard fins.
These fins have vents at the base of the foot pocket. The vents allow water to pass through the fin during the recovery stroke of the kick cycle and prevent water from passing during the power stroke.
This helps you move through the water more efficiently than with the standard fins.
Channel fins
Channel fins use different types of materials in the blade which allows the fins to flex and change the flow of water. When you kick, the fin forms a “U” shape channel which in a way captures and directs water more efficiently than just having ribs on the side of the fins.
The channel fins are usually made by using rigged fin materials with softer materials.
Split fins
Split fins have a split running down the middle of the blade with stiffer sidewalls for support. The split fins work similar to the wings of a plane or even boat propellers.
Thanks to their design, the split fins propel you through the water by “lift” created by water passing through the splits in the fins. This makes kicking the fins very easy and greatly reduces your energy consumption.
Hinged fins
Fairly new to fin design, hinged fins have a point on the blade that hinges. The hinge in the blade allows the fin to move to the best angle of attack on the power stroke. This significantly improves performance. Of course, these fins cost the most and they are usually used by professionals only.
That’s it! Now you are all set to go shopping for the perfect pair of fins. We’ve already prepared several suggestions for you to consider.
[ps2id id=’3′ target=”/]
So, stay with us to find out more.
The best Cressi snorkel fins
All of the fins we are about to present you are manufactured by Cressi, the world famous water sporting company based out of Italy.
This is a family run company that was founded by two brothers in Genoa, specializing in water sports equipment.
They have been going since 1946, so they should certainly know a thing or two about fins!
[ps2id id=’4′ target=”/]
The first pair we looked at were the Cressi Rondinella Fins For Snorkelling and Swimming.
